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London - American electric car maker Tesla Motors on Tuesday said it was suing hit BBC motoring show Top Gear for allegedly faking a race between its electric sports car and a petrol-driven Lotus Elise.
The firm said it issued a writ in London's High Court on Tuesday, claiming defamation and malicious falsehood on a show aired two years ago, which supposedly tested its Roadster Sport.
This is the latest row to engulf the often controversial programme, whose presenters were at the centre of a diplomatic row last month for making disparaging remarks about Mexico.
The drag race between the Lotus and the Tesla - the world's fastest electric car with a top speed of 201km an hour - appeared to show the Tesla slowing down and running out of charge. It is later seen being pushed into a garage.
In the episode, presenter Jeremy Clarkson says: "It's just a shame that in the real world it doesn't seem to work."
Forced to take action
The company says the car's ability was grossly misrepresented and alleges the scenes were rigged to fit a pre-written script that one of its employees had seen.
In the writ, Tesla challenges the broadcaster over what it says was a string of inaccuracies, including informing the public the car's range was only 88km instead of 339km.
The company alleges the show "intentionally and/or recklessly, grossly misled potential purchasers of the Roadsters".
The BBC said in a statement it had received notification of proceedings relating to the episode, adding that it "stands by the programme and will be vigorously defending this claim".
Tesla said it had been forced to take action after the episode was featured on repeat broadcasts around the world and included in a DVD.
The firm said it issued a writ in London's High Court on Tuesday, claiming defamation and malicious falsehood on a show aired two years ago, which supposedly tested its Roadster Sport.
This is the latest row to engulf the often controversial programme, whose presenters were at the centre of a diplomatic row last month for making disparaging remarks about Mexico.
The drag race between the Lotus and the Tesla - the world's fastest electric car with a top speed of 201km an hour - appeared to show the Tesla slowing down and running out of charge. It is later seen being pushed into a garage.
In the episode, presenter Jeremy Clarkson says: "It's just a shame that in the real world it doesn't seem to work."
Forced to take action
The company says the car's ability was grossly misrepresented and alleges the scenes were rigged to fit a pre-written script that one of its employees had seen.
In the writ, Tesla challenges the broadcaster over what it says was a string of inaccuracies, including informing the public the car's range was only 88km instead of 339km.
The company alleges the show "intentionally and/or recklessly, grossly misled potential purchasers of the Roadsters".
The BBC said in a statement it had received notification of proceedings relating to the episode, adding that it "stands by the programme and will be vigorously defending this claim".
Tesla said it had been forced to take action after the episode was featured on repeat broadcasts around the world and included in a DVD.
